The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, formed in 2005, reflects a growing public awareness about the urgent need to protect the Great Lakes. The Coalition is generously supported by the Wege Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Charles S. Mott Foundation, and the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation. Support specific to the Eastern Lake Michigan Watershed Region is made possible by the Frey Foundation. The Coalition seeks to secure a sustainable restoration plan and the billions of dollars of state and federal funding needed to implement it. The co- alition seeks to clean up sewage and toxic sediments, restore damaged habitat, protect high quality habitat, and control and prevent the introduction of invasive species, each of which is an essential component of restoring the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Federal Project Support Grants Program: The goal of this program is to provide financial support that will aid in the development and implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other Fed- eral proposals or projects with awards up to $15,000. Projects should include community engagement.
Sponsors: In order to apply for a Healing Our Waters grant, non-501(c)(3) organizations must have a quali- fied 501(c)(3) organization as a sponsor. The sponsor assumes responsibility for financial administration of the grant. If necessary, the sponsor may charge up to 5% of the total grant to cover administrative costs.
Eligibility:
• Any community based initiative working to restore aquatic habitats, who have received, or will be applying for, funding under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) RFP or other federal funding sources.
• Any group acting as an effective stakeholder with project decision makers for federally funded restoration activities in their community.
• Must be located in the Eastern Lake Michigan Watershed
• United States based, 501(c)(3) environmental, conservation, or community organizations.
• United States applicants that do not have 501(c) (3) tax status must have a sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization (see Sponsors section).
• Each applicant may receive one award per funding cycle
Sample Activities: The following are project exam- ples and not inclusive of all project ideas. For ques- tions or to discuss a project idea, contact Cheryl Kallio at 231-348-8200 or grants@freshwaterfuture.org. Project examples could include:
• Small aspects of a larger GLRI restoration project;
• Assistance with the development of a GLRI pro- posal such as grant writing or project development assistance.
• Research needed as part of a GLRI restoration proposal or project, such as water or soil testing;
• Specialist services needed as part of a GLRI resto- ration proposal or project, such as hydrologist or geologist.
• Facilitating the development of a collaborative GLRI proposal between multiple organizations working in the same geographic areas.
• Assistance with implementing a secured GLRI proposal through activities such as project man- agement training, collaboration building, match development, development of specific technical capabilities.
Types of Activities We Do Not Fund:
• Projects or support for GLRI project proposals that do not include actual on-the-ground restoration work.
• Governmental functions (including governmental entities such as units of government, governmen- tal agencies and conservation districts).
• Lobbying activities (activities that attempt to influ- ence specific pieces of legislation).
• Projects that have already been completed.
How We Evaluate Applications: The following evaluation criterion strategically focuses HOW’s lim- ited funds. All HOW projects referred to below should be a piece of a larger GLRI or other federal proposal or project. Preference will be given to projects that do some or all of the following:
1. Part of a larger proposal or project that demon- strates activities that can help reduce these impacts related to climate change, such as warming air and lake temperatures, heavier precipitation and droughts, and decreasing lake water levels.
2. A project or proposal that is at or nearing imple- mentation may attract stronger support or be more heavily weighted than a project or proposal that is just getting underway.
3. Because the GLRI or other federal funding typi- cally require partnerships and because many res- toration projects are best served by collaborative thinking and work, showing partners for capacity assistance.
4. A project or proposal that includes multiple funding sources.
5. Proposals or projects that have or are working to build community support.
6. Proposals that identify which Great Lakes Region- al Collaboration Strategy goal, milestone, and/or recommendation the project seeks to implement.
7. Parts of a larger proposal or project that is support- ed by local, state, or federal policies or ordinances. 8. Part of a larger proposal or project that will result in short-term and long-term ecological benefits. 9. Part of a larger proposal or project that can demonstrate economic and social benefits.
10. Part of a larger proposal or project that provides new and unique examples to help with future similar projects.
11. Part of a larger proposal or project that provides a plan for long-term maintenance of the restoration work.
12.Clear articulation of how funding from HOW will support a larger GLRI proposal or project.
It is important for applicants to know that HOW may receive many more applications than it can possibly fund. Groups that do not receive a grant can reapply for future funding.
Assistance for Potential Applicants: Freshwater Future staff members are here to help you. Potential applicants seeking advice on how to complete the grant application format or wishing to discuss poten- tial projects are encouraged to contact Cheryl Kallio at grants@freshwaterfuture.org or 231-348-8200.
Submitting Your Application: Proposals for both the Federal Project Support and Community Engagement grants programs must be prepared based on the questions and format contained in the 2015 HOW Grant Application Form, found at freshwaterfuture.org. Please send your application in a Word attachment and supporting documents via email to grants@freshwa- terfuture.org. Supporting documents may be sent via first class mail. Please do not fax your application. A confirmation e-mail will be sent within 24 hours, if you don’t receive that message, please contact us.
Deadline and Funding Distribution: There is no deadline. Grants are given on a first come, first served basis. Funds will be distributed as they are secured.
Grant readers from around the Great Lakes basin will review and prioritize applications. Freshwater Future staff will announce a final decision within one month of applying. Contract letters to grant recipients will be mailed.
Grant Period: The period for awards granted is typically 6 months from the respective start date. If the proposed project requires a longer duration in or- der to ensure successful completion, we will consider a one-year grant period. Clearly note the requested grant period in your application. Funded applicants may apply for follow-up funding to support new ini- tiatives or to build on successes of previously funded efforts, as long as previous projects have been success- fully completed or are in good standing.
Source: Freshwater Future
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